Oil Change Frequency - Revision history

Bokonon: /* How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use? */

2010-09-22T07:59:56Z

‎How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use?

Bokonon: /* How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use? */

2010-09-22T07:57:51Z

‎How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use?

Bokonon: /* How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use? */

2010-09-22T07:56:11Z

‎How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use?

Bokonon at 07:50, 22 September 2010

2010-09-22T07:50:52Z

Bokonon: /* How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use? */

2010-07-25T08:14:44Z

‎How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use?

Bokonon at 12:14, 29 May 2006

2006-05-29T12:14:57Z

New page

[[Category:Engine]]
====How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use?====

You should change both oil and filter every 3000-6000 miles, depending on your driving conditions. If you frequently make short trips (less than 20 minutes of riding), ride in stop-and-go traffic, ride in extreme temperatures, or in dusty conditions, stick to the short end of the range. If you only ride several hours at a time on the freeway, the oil will last longer.

The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. Recommended oil weight is 10W40 to 20w50. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation, citing progressive oil break down or contamination due to heavy use, dusty conditions, and so forth. Taken to an extreme, one could change the oil prior to every use, and some racers do exactly that. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes, and there is some benefit that diminishes with decreasing the oil change interval.

Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than non-synth, but this is an issue of some debate. Changing oil at 3000 miles is the safest choice. Some claim that synth can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.

Please see the other oil pages for information about synthetic oil.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:59, 22 September 2010
Line 8:		Line 8:
	Recommended oil weight is 10w40 to 20w50, depending on your climate. See your owner's manual. You can also use [[Preferred Brands\|Shell Rotella 5w40]].		Recommended oil weight is 10w40 to 20w50, depending on your climate. See your owner's manual. You can also use [[Preferred Brands\|Shell Rotella 5w40]].

−	It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?\|synthetic oil]] after ~~the~~ bike gets to 3000 to 5000 miles. Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any ~~question~~.	+	It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?\|synthetic oil]] after your bike gets 3000-5000 miles on the odometer.
		+
		+	Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any doubts.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:57, 22 September 2010
Line 8:		Line 8:
	Recommended oil weight is 10w40 to 20w50, depending on your climate. See your owner's manual. You can also use [[Preferred Brands\|Shell Rotella 5w40]].		Recommended oil weight is 10w40 to 20w50, depending on your climate. See your owner's manual. You can also use [[Preferred Brands\|Shell Rotella 5w40]].

−	It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?\|synthetic oil]] after ~~reaching~~ 3000 to 5000 miles. Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.	+	It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?\|synthetic oil]] after the bike gets to 3000 to 5000 miles. Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 You should change both oil and filter every 3000-6000 miles, depending on your riding conditions and habits. If you frequently make short trips, ride in stop-and-go traffic, extreme temperatures, or dusty conditions, stick to the short end of the range. If you only ride several hours at a time on the freeway, the oil will last longer.
-The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break-in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. Recommended oil weight is 10W40 to 20w50. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes.
+The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break-in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes.
-It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?|synthetic oil]] after reaching 3000 to 5000 miles.
+Recommended oil weight is 10w40 to 20w50, depending on your climate. See your owner's manual. You can also use [[Preferred Brands|Shell Rotella 5w40]].
-Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.
+It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?|synthetic oil]] after reaching 3000 to 5000 miles. Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:50, 22 September 2010
Line 5:		Line 5:

	The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break-in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. Recommended oil weight is 10W40 to 20w50. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes.		The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break-in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. Recommended oil weight is 10W40 to 20w50. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes.
		+
		+	It is highly recommended that you start using [[Why Synthetic Oil?\|synthetic oil]] after reaching 3000 to 5000 miles.

	Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.		Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ====How often should I change the oil? What kind should I use?====
-You should change both oil and filter every 3000-6000 miles, depending on your driving conditions. If you frequently make short trips (less than 20 minutes of riding), ride in stop-and-go traffic, ride in extreme temperatures, or in dusty conditions, stick to the short end of the range. If you only ride several hours at a time on the freeway, the oil will last longer.
+You should change both oil and filter every 3000-6000 miles, depending on your riding conditions and habits. If you frequently make short trips, ride in stop-and-go traffic, extreme temperatures, or dusty conditions, stick to the short end of the range. If you only ride several hours at a time on the freeway, the oil will last longer.
-The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. Recommended oil weight is 10W40 to 20w50. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation, citing progressive oil break down or contamination due to heavy use, dusty conditions, and so forth. Taken to an extreme, one could change the oil prior to every use, and some racers do exactly that. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes, and there is some benefit that diminishes with decreasing the oil change interval.
+The Kawasaki service manual recommends changing the engine oil and oil filter after the first 500 miles (800 km) of engine break-in and at 6000 mile (10,000 km) intervals thereafter. Recommended oil weight is 10W40 to 20w50. In addition, the service manual recommends changing the engine oil prior to storing the bike. Many riders change engine oil at intervals considerably more frequent than the service manual recommendation. There is no harm in more frequent oil changes.
-Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than non-synth, but this is an issue of some debate. Changing oil at 3000 miles is the safest choice. Some claim that synth can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.
+Synthetic oil can arguably be run longer than regular oil, but this is an issue of some debate. Some claim that synthetic can be run out to 6000 or 7000 miles, but this may allow the oil to break down too much. Change at 3000 miles if you have any question.
-−
-−
-Please see the other oil pages for information about synthetic oil.